Zhu Zhuqing stopped in her tracks at his words and instantly turned around, her eyes filled with confusion.
"Boss, is there something else?"
Lin Yan leaned against the counter and glanced at her, then quietly swept his gaze over the crowd of onlookers outside, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
"Interested in another package?"
"What package?"
Lin Yan's words immediately caught Zhu Zhuqing's attention. Every package in his shop defied the heavens. Anything he took the initiative to suggest and recommend had to be even more important.
Lin Yan immediately spoke again.
"Do you remember what happened during the Martial Soul Awakening of Ning Rongrong-the young lady of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect who just received a fully equipped daughter?"
Of course she remembered what Lin Yan was talking about. After all, so little time had passed that even someone with a terrible memory couldn't have forgotten already.
Wasn't Lin Yan referring to that Titled Douluo who had coveted Ning Rongrong's daughter?
But what did that have to do with her?
"The birth of Ning Rongrong's flawless daughter instantly shook the entire city, driving even a Titled Douluo expert to take a desperate risk. Yours may only be red-grade with a score of 79, but she still has twin martial souls and innate level 9 soul power.
"And she received the follow-up rewards too, so she's actually only a little behind Ning Rongrong's.
"She's guaranteed to become a Limit Douluo in the future, and might even become a god.
"A genius like that would be an irresistible prize coveted and envied by everyone across the entire Douluo Continent. What's more, she's only six now, with enormous potential to be molded.
"Ning Rongrong has the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and two Super Douluos protecting her. What about you?"
That one question from Lin Yan jolted Zhu Zhuqing awake. A chill ran through her entire body, and cold sweat broke out across her back.
That was right. She had neither a sect's protection nor a powerful expert to escort her. She was all alone, with the threat of assassination by Zhu Zhuyun lurking in the shadows.
Having a peerless daughter destined to become a Limit Douluo was no different from carrying a priceless treasure.
She abruptly looked toward the surrounding crowd and now discovered, to her shock, that most of them were looking at her with greed, covetousness, malice...
All kinds of gazes intertwined, most of them landing on her precious daughter, Zhu Zhuyou, as though she were a tool to be allocated and used.
Frightened, Zhu Zhuqing immediately took Zhu Zhuyou by the hand and returned to Lin Yan's shop. Right now, only Lin Yan's shop was the safest place.
She looked at Lin Yan anxiously.
"Boss, since you've raised this issue, you must have a solution, right? Does it have something to do with that new package you mentioned?"
"Correct."
A smile of success appeared on Lin Yan's face-the smile of an unscrupulous merchant. Unfortunately, he wore a mask, so Zhu Zhuqing couldn't see it.
"This shop offers not only nurturing services but matching protection services as well. Protection throughout, shielding against prying eyes, intimidating petty villains, and intercepting assassinations. They can protect your precious daughter so she can cultivate in peace and grow up without worry."
At his words, Zhu Zhuqing's eyes immediately lit up, and she answered without hesitation.
"Yes, absolutely! Boss, I have to buy this package. I don't care about the price. Take it out of my credit limit."
Right now, safety mattered most to her.
"Don't get too excited. Before you buy, I need to make this clear. This protection applies only to your daughter. The guard will appear only when she's in danger and won't be able to help you directly."
That works too. Doesn't protecting my daughter mean protecting me?
There's no difference.
"Boss, hurry and tell me what packages there are and what services they offer!"
"All right, I won't keep you guessing.
"The protection service comes in four packages: the Frost Guard, the Blazing Flame Guard, the Obsidian Guard, and the top-tier Demon King Guard.
"The lowest tier, the Frost Guard, costs a total of three million Gold Soul Coins and provides a genuine level-90 Titled Douluo guard.
"The service rules are:
"The guard's sole duty throughout is to protect the child's safety. He will never participate in any outside affairs and will appear instantly to rescue the child only when she faces mortal danger.
"The second tier, the Blazing Flame Guard, costs a total of nine million Gold Soul Coins and provides a level-93 Titled Douluo.
"The third tier, the Obsidian Guard, costs a total of twenty-seven million Gold Soul Coins and provides a level-96 Super Douluo.
"The fourth tier, the top-tier Demon King Guard, costs a total of eighty-one million Gold Soul Coins.
"All four protection packages follow the same terms: they serve the child for twelve years, from age six to eighteen, and are responsible only for the child's safety. They do not interfere in any outside matters or become entangled in any karma."
The instant Lin Yan finished, the entire crowd erupted.
"But boss, isn't that way too expensive?"
"Exactly! Eighty-one million Gold Soul Coins for the Demon King Guard over twelve years-that's nearly ten million Gold Soul Coins a year! And you haven't even listed the Demon King Guard's cultivation."
"The earlier ones too! Level 90, level 93, level 96, and you dare charge that much?
"Boss, isn't this package a bit of a rip-off?"
Before Zhu Zhuqing could speak, the other onlookers were already buzzing with discussion. They all thought Lin Yan was fleecing people, his heart black with greed.
With that money, they could hire plenty of experts. Spending twenty-seven million on a level-96 Super Douluo-didn't that mean having so much money it burned a hole in their pockets?
Faced with everyone's doubts, as well as the confusion and hesitation in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes, Lin Yan's expression remained unchanged as he immediately explained.
"The Frost Guard may be level 90, but everything this shop produces is top quality. His combat strength is unrivaled from level 90 through level 95.
"The Blazing Flame Guard may only be level 93, but he's unrivaled below level 97.
"The Obsidian Guard's combat strength equals that of a Limit Douluo. As for the top-tier Demon King Guard...
"Below the gods, he is invincible. Against the gods and above, he trades one life for one."
Lin Yan's words shocked the entire crowd. Everyone sucked in a breath of cold air, inwardly marveling at how terrifying that was.
What did he mean, a level-90 Titled Douluo was unrivaled up through level 95?
What did he mean, a level-93 Titled Douluo could take on a level-97 Super Douluo?
Was he kidding them?
The gap between Titled Douluos wasn't as simple as a level or two. Every level was a whole new heaven!
Every level was an enormous hurdle, and he was jumping straight over four?
Killing enemies four levels above him-what Soul Master was that gifted?
As for that level-96 Soul Master being directly comparable to a Limit Douluo, that was even more ridiculous.
They didn't even want to think about the "Demon King Guard" Lin Yan had mentioned afterward. What was this "Below the gods, he is invincible. Against the gods and above, he trades one life for one"? So he could take a god down with him?
Utter nonsense. They didn't believe it.
"I knew you wouldn't believe me. Does anyone here want to experience it in person?"
Lin Yan raised his voice, calling on everyone to verify it themselves.
All he got in response was a chorus of scoffs.
"Boss, you only dare brag because you see there aren't any Titled Douluos here.
"If you've got the guts, wait until Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo come back. Have that so-called Blazing Flame Guard of yours test his strength against them, and we'll see whether a level 93 really can withstand a level 97 head-on."
"One of those two is level 96, and the other is level 95. Where did you get a level 97?"
"You really know your stuff, boss! Still, if that Blazing Flame Guard is really as amazing as you say, have him fight both of them at once. Then we'll see whether it's true."
"But his soul power has to be tested first."
"Naturally. This shop never deceives its customers in any way. One is one, and two is two. The strength of all these guards can be verified in person."
"Then what about the last two? That level-96 Obsidian Guard with the combat strength of a Limit Douluo, and that even more heaven-defying Demon King Guard who rivals the gods? The names sound pretty imposing, but how do we test them?"
"There's no need. You can't afford them anyway."
Lin Yan spoke bluntly.
"That cut deep, boss."
Before you continue